Second in What Should be a Great Series

<br />The author, Simon Scarrow teaches at a leading Sixth Form College. He has run a Roman History programme taking parties of students to a number of ruins and museums across Britain. This is the first in a series of books about Quintus Licinius Cato, Optio (second in command) to Macro a centurion and veteran of more than one campaign in the Roman legions.<br /><br />Centurion Macro and his Optio (second in command) Quintus Licinius Cato have arrived in Britain as part of the Emperor Claudius's invasion force in AD43. The Roman army are easily outnumbered by the local natives, so it is essential that the Roman's engage the enemy before they have a chance to grow strong enough to overwhelm the legions.<br /><br />However the Britons are not the only danger facing Macro and Cato. An organisation opposed to the Emperor is secretly betraying the Legions and when rumours of an assassination plot coincide with Claudius arriving on British soil, the soldiers know that they are up against a force much more dangerous the British.

like the clock that struck 13 ...

An entertaining read, though the last quarter gets tiresomely silly.<br /><br />I would have admired Mr Brown's much-vaunted 'extensive research', and the ingenuity with which he constructs his plot around the topography of Rome (of which I am ignorant), except that in the one area in which I do know a little, he makes such astonishing errors that I cannot take seriously anything else he holds out as fact. Two examples:<br /><br />1. Yoga, he says, is 'a Buddhist art'. No, it isn't. Its Hindu roots go back hundreds of years before the Buddha lived. <br /><br />2. More astonishingly, our revered professor of symbology is of the opinion that Chritianity 'borrowed' the concept of the Eucharist (partaking of the body and blood of God) from the Aztecs. Now you can possibly argue that the origins of the eucharist lie in ancient Egypt, or maybe even the Roman cult of Mithras, but the Aztecs? Not only did Aztec culture flourish two continents and a fairly large ocean away from Jerusalem - it only arose about 1100 years after Christianity, by which time the Church had been celebrating the Eucharist, with full transubstatiational theology, for at least 800 years. <br /><br />If Mr Brown can include errors so basic that 10 minutes on Wikipedia would correct them, what other howlers underlie his book? Of course it's fiction, but not as anchored in the real world as the author would have us believe.

Brilliant

This is one of those books that you keep in your hand when you get off the tube so that you can read one more paragraph going up the escalator. It is immediately engaging and written extremely well. You care for the characters and the author does a brilliant job of introducing them all well whilst keeping the mystery going so that you can't wait to turn the page. It is also very funny in parts and acutely sad in others. I was worried towards the end that I would be disappointed but I thought the book finished very well and I can't wait to order another from this author.

The Eagle's Prophecy

Once again Simon Scarrow has excelled himself with the Eagle's series. He has drawn two marvellous lead characters in Macro and Cato and pulled off brilliantly the setting of their adventures within and amongst real historical characters.<br /><br />If you enjoy this series then Scarrow has plenty of excellent company but I would put him on top of the pile containing:<br /><br />Lindsey Davis<br />Rosemary Rowe<br />Steven Saylor<br />David Wishart<br />John Maddox Roberts <br /><br />I cannot wait to see how their lives progress alongside Vittelius and Vespasian who are both destined to be Emperor in 25 years time. Having read Scarrow's characterisation of Vitellius it is easy to imagine they were queuing up to assassinate him in December of AD 69 and to imagine why Vespasian was everyone's choice as a stable figurehead for the empire.<br /><br />Here's to 20+ years of Macro and Cato!?

Magnificent... but Flawed (4.5 *stars)

This is the first Dave Robicheux novel since `Black Cherry Blues' to take the deputy sheriff out of his home state of Louisiana (laid to waste after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita) and into the mid-west farmlands of Montana. Not coincidentally, these are also the two states that James Lee Burke calls his home. Here Robicheux is enjoying a trip with his wife Molly and big buddy Cletus Purcell, where they're ranch house guests of Robicheux's friend Albert Hollister - a retired English professor and writer. <br /><br />Virtually from page one - which depicts Purcell doing a spot of solo fishing - there's trouble. Two employees of Ridley Wellstone, an extremely rich Texan oil man who has relocated to Montana, inform Purcell he's on private land, insult him, break his fishing rod (a VERY bad idea) and chase him. <br /><br />From there the action kicks off as Robicheux and Purcell become entangled in events at Wellstone's mansion - which he shares with his badly burnt brother Lesley and Lesley's wife Jamie Sue - and the search for a serial killer. <br /><br />In a parallel plot, 6ft 5in prison guard Troyce Nix violently sodomises country singer Jimmy Dale Greenwood, a prisoner in his care, and pushes this gentle guy into attacking him with a homemade shiv. Nix is badly injured but recovers after a short spell in hospital. He then pursues his attacker, accompanied by a lady friend he picks-up along the way. His pursuit of Greenwood becomes inextricably linked with the Robicheux/Wellstone story, and there's a crossover of characters into both plotlines that Burke controls brilliantly.<br /><br />`Swan Peak' is the seventeenth novel in the series and displays all the strengths and weaknesses of the best of the books.<br /><br />The strengths? The sheer impassioned poetry of the writing and the vividly described locales; the action scenes of measured brutality; the finely nuanced language and expertly developed sub-plots (even if they're the SAME ones he recycles, novel after novel!) If you've never read Mr Burke before you'll be stunned by the literacy on display: this is very powerful stuff.<br /><br />The weaknesses? EVERY James Lee Burke character whether they are rich or poor, intellectual or uneducated, speaks in exactly the same way: the same cadences, the same tone and intonation. And each one delivers virtually identical, perfectly articulated insults. I am also a little tired of his predilection for peopling his books with strange-looking or deformed men. <br /><br />Furthermore, every book has Robicheux describing a character as a `psychopath' virtually upon meeting them, and we are expected to share his snap assessment even though we've been presented with NO evidence to back it up at this stage.<br /><br />But lets not dwell too long upon the faults, these are easily outweighed by Mr Burke's formidable writing gifts. <br /><br />The events of 'Swan Peak' take place in a mythical America, and although the setting is contemporary, the action and dialogue could easily have taken place in the 1930s or in any decade between then and now. Some of the slang: button men, gangbangers, 'diming' is also outdated and a little quaint.<br /><br />As usual, Clete Purcell (an ex-NOPD cop) is more violent than most of the baddies and is like a straining pit-bull on a leash. It takes a few measured words from Robicheux to calm him down, and even then they don't always work. Both men are Vietnam vets, and are still visited by demons created from the horrors they've witnessed. These are very complex guys, and sometimes the line between good and evil is more than a little blurred. This is also the case with Troyce Nix - the most psychologically interesting character the author has created in a long while. <br /><br />Lee Burke keeps everything in focus here and his mastery of situation and plot is never in doubt - and he delivers a quite fantastic ending. Even after acknowledging his weaknesses he is still palpably one of the greats of modern crime fiction. I can recommend this to fans and those who fancy trying `something different' for a change. Not quite the best book in the series, I award this 4.5 stars.<br />

Astonishingly good

An unputdownable read....<br /><br />If all crime writing was this good, I would be incredibly happy.<br /><br />This is top notch plotting, writing, psychology, description, conversation and an acute insight into the (probable ) behaviour of our anti-terrorist squads.<br /><br />Buy this. You will not be disappointed.<br /><br />Val McDermid at her best.

a real page turner

yet another great book by peter james..... i loved this book i could'nt put it down . great from the first page till the last. i had to reread some pages just to make sure i had read it right the first time. twists and turns all the way 10/10

Familiar Grisham - just not that great

The last year or so have been troublesome as I haven't had a 'generic' John Grisham to read on my holidays. I fell into this routine a decade ago and it became a habit although not last year as I read reviews of the Pizza book and decided I'd avoid. Imagine my utter joy this year when I discover a new 'proper' Grisham book to chill me out in my first few days of holiday - it was a paperback too so that was good! I'm back from holiday now and have finished 'The Appeal'. It is OK but just didn't satisfy in the way all, well I'm pretty sure all, previous Grisham legalpap books have. I associate Grisham books with multiple plot layers that weave, intrigue and conclude well. This is written around an interersting issue but not in a particulaly interesting or attention keeping way. It just isn't as good and at times seems to insult my intelligence in a way I never felt before. <br /><br />So to all the others in the Grisham holiday reading club I'd suggest you get your expectations tuned down a bit: if you are expecting more of the same super lealpap then you'll be left a little empty come the (poor but timely) ending.

Great stuff for book two

I enjoyed reading this, although I did like the first one more. This book is really getting to know Dexter, rather than his 'dark passenger' I think. The crime is gruesome and not much is left to the imagination. <br /><br />Brilliantly written, I look forward to reading the third one - almost immediately as I want to have read them before the television series starts next week!<br /><br />A great writer, a great character and a great plot.

Good, but not brilliant

This is a decent and fast paced crime story, and the fast pace does make you forgive many of the flaws in the story.<br /><br />I'm not giving anything away by explaining that two storyline threads run through most of this book. The central character is a cop who murders people on the side, and the book follows both the fall-out from his latest killings and the case he is investigating. This works well for most of the book, but the first of these threads approaches its conclusion way ahead of the other, so the last part of the book is uneven as the other thread catches up. Also, as the net closes on our corrupt cop he seems obsessed with solving the crime he is working on rather than saving his own skin, to the point of being ridiculous. There are a number of barely credible episodes in the story, particularly the big finale.<br /><br />In the preamble to the book, the author cites his many contacts in the police who have helped him research that side of the story so well. But reading the book I found no insight into police procedures or anything to indicate a particular knowledge of how the police work (at least, nothing more than you would get from watching a couple of episodes of The Bill).<br /><br />Overall this book is a good read, and as I say the fast pace keeps the pages turning and you easily forgive the shortfalls.<br /><br />This was the author's first book, and the first I have read by him. There was enough good in this book to make me want to read the next one.

A good start

This is the first in the series of Simon Scarrow's 'Eagle' books chronicling the lives of Macro and Cato in the service of Rome's legions. <br /><br />I found the book mostly entertaining and the (all too rare) subject matter to my taste. The author has a broad knowledge of his genre and keeps the action rattling along nicely. It is a great way to pick up a feel of life in the legions through their routines and equipment. That's the positive.<br /><br />Now the negative. The characters were, for me, a little too cliched and the plots tissue-thin with the kind of pace and goon-ish bad guys usually reserved for video games. The rapid progression of Cato from a pencil-necked weed to a hardened warrior was just plain silly in its speed. Also, the language was too modern for my taste - I like to feel immersed in a historical story, not feel like I am watching a modern adaptation of it. There was the occasional very small historical inaccuracy, but nothing that can't be called artistic licence. <br /><br />What really peeved me was the idea that Roman Legionaries were supermen able to hack their way through countless hordes of crazed 'natives' as individuals as well as tight formations. The fact is that they were very good soldiers, fought in well drilled units and had a logistical organisation that was centuries ahead of their rivals. You would obviously have the odd killing-machine, especially in veterans, but for the most part one-on-one, in individual combat, they were often at a disadvantage with equipment and training that was not suited, against practised warriors who fought in that very style and focussed on it exclusively from an early age. Mr Scarrow appears to have swallowed Julius Caesar's self-agrandising propaganda without question. <br /><br />I have read others books in the series and found that these flaws remain, although to a lesser degree, throughout. Simon Scarrow has obviously warmed to his narrative a little more with practice, but without changing the essence of his style. They're a decent read and worth having, but I'm not going to be elbowing any grannies out the way for the latest release on the shelf. These books are fun fiction and should be treated as such, probably aimed at the younger adult audience rather than those who are looking for anything deeper.

Simply Outstanding

I read this book cover to cover in two days (only stopping because I had to go to work) and followed it up straight away with The Eye of The Moon. It's been a very long time since I've read something I enjoyed this much. The fact that it's peppered with vampires, werewolves, serial killers and all kinds of weird and wonderful characters only adds to its charm. I don't think I've ever read anything I could compare it with, although if pushed I would say there are faint echoes of Stephen King's gunslinger books (but with more humour). It reminds me in places of Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas series - but only if you crossed it with Quentin Tarantino's `From Dusk `Till Dawn' or `Kill Bill'. At times I even found myself thinking of a light-hearted comparison to Anne Rice's `Memnoch The Devil'. The simple fact is though, that this book is unlike anything else I've ever read. If you hate this book, it's simply because you don't get it. It's not trying to be a clever book - it is a clever book, not least because despite its subject content and dubious characters, it is very, very amusing. Elvis is alive - albeit as a notorious killer! I would face down the Bourbon Kid with a smile on my face if I could only find out who really wrote this! Would the anonymous author please reveal him(her)self or at the very least write another book!!!

Beautifully written

Contrary to at least one other review, I find the character of Kate the pre-teen detective very convincing, wonderfully drawn, and like several other characters in this wonderfully written novel, achingly sad. <br /><br />There is something of Joanne Harris in the spareness of the prose here, deceptively simple, clean, uncomplicated, but flowing.<br /><br />The plot is perhaps thin in places, and certainly the conclusion is not entirely convincing, but it feels rather like an excuse to produce some of these fine characters. Like many an early novel, you suspect more than a hint of autobiography as well.<br /><br />A lovely read.

Gripping

Contrary to what many reader's believe Lee Child is British, but moved with his family from Cumbria to the United States to begin a new career as an American thriller writer. What probably fools a lot of people is that is rare for a British author to be able to write American thrillers with any kind of authenticity. He has won a number of awards with his books and he lives just outside New York City with his American wife Jane. The couple have a grown-up daughter, Ruth and when Lee is not writing he shares his time between music, reader and supporting the New York Yankees.<br /><br />There's no doubt about it Jack Reacher is a man's man but when it comes to the opposite sex, he a sucker for a cry for help and this has got him into more trouble than he bargained for on more than one occasion. This time he is asked by the persuasive Ms. Froelich to help her protect non other than the Vice-President of the US from an assassination attempt that is being set up and the powers that be have got wind of.<br /><br />Reacher soon finds himself where he doesn't want to be involved with the Secret Service in Washington. Usually a loner Jack soon finds problems looming with the bureaucrats that are just as far reaching as the problems with a hard nosed, ruthless killer, who is just as willing to have Jack Reacher in his sights as the Vice-President, after all that is what assassin enjoys most of all, killing, and an extra one is just a bonus . . .

fantastic read!!

without doubt the most engrossing book i've ever read!Could not put it down, i will be working my way through his other titles post haste.

Die Writing!

I have read about seven of Lee Child's Jack Reacher books now and must say that this one was quite dissappointing. Whilst it is fiction, reality has been bent too much. Some of Reacher's antics belong more to a comic than this type of book. It appeared that Child was running our of ideas on this one as he wrote of Reacher picking locks in seconds, being ethical when faced with attack dogs (that don't attack) and staring them down when they find him! The shooting scene with the Barrat 50's was unbeleivable and the blowing up of the truck at close range, in a helicopter, when Reacher was concerned for his safety blowing up the same amount of dynamite at 1200 yards, was stretching the imagination just a bit too far. A definate three stars, maybe even a two. That said, the rest of the book is OK and an average read. Definately not Lee Child's finest novel.

Simply the Best

I have read several of the Jack Reacher novels and this one has to be my favourite so far.<br />Showing a rare glimpse of Reachers past I really enjoyed the fast pace, twists and turns. I could not put this down from start to end, an exellent buy!

Another Stoater!

Christopher Brookmyre never disappoints and this book is no exception. Jack Parlabane is resurrected as the hero - albeit a dead hero - to guide us through the plot with his usual ascerbic wit. I love Brookmyre's use of language - good and bad! If you're easily offended don't read this book but if you are a realist, living in the real world where people swear a lot, pick up this book and enjoy it as much as I did! Fantastic.